| 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 |
2021 Kia Stinger 4dr Hatch
turbocharged 365hp 3.3L V6 8-speed shiftable automatic AWD
| Kia Stinger in North Carolina, United States Aug 2024 - Mar 2025 | |||
| Dec 202420000 mi | Fun double-trip. First, I booked the 20,000 maintenance, while asking for an alignment. While in the shop, I agreed to top-fuel system maintenance they suggested, since I had bought the car 2 months prior and wasn't entirely cognizant that all details and maintenance had been done. Better safe than sorry, I figured the 4-500$ was preventative. That 1 day turned into 3 days, as they saw I had needed recalls to be done - admittedly one had been announced after I purchased the car. But still...3 full days in the shop? NO LOANER. Then, on the way home from the dealer, my car threw a check engine light! I called the dealership and brought the car back. They took a quick look and advised it was a catalytic converter issue. My car is under warranty, it's safe to drive, bring the car back...Monday, the parts will be ordered and in by then. Bring the car Monday, they say they need it due to short-staffing for 2 days, should be done by EOD Tuesday. Leave the car. NO LOANER. I'm close enough I can easily Uber back and forth. Real busy at work Monday and Tuesday, I can't even finish until after dealer closes. Wednesday I call them, and they advise that some studs broke while they working, necessitating the removal of 1 turbo, and the engagement of a machine shop to assist. WHAT!?! Very sorry, should be done by Friday. NO LOANER. So Xmas is 1 week away. I see where this is going. I call and arrange a rental through Friday. Friday comes, they ran into more issues, wrong parts were ordered. They have the right parts ordered, will be Monday. I call the rental company and extend to Dec 26th, and they give me a weekly rate. Monday, not done. Tuesday the 24th, Xmas eve, I have the day off. I make a late lunch and sit down at 1:42 PM. At 1:45 I get aphone call - from the dealership telling me the car is done, but they close at 2PM. Can I make it there in 15 minutes? I leave my food, hop in the rental, and make it to the dealership at 1:57 - to CLOSED AND LOCKED DOORS. But they are still there, and open the doors for me. I get the keys, and ask if I can leave the car there while I return my rental? Sure. I figure the rental guys can drive me back. I arrive at rental place, find that they closed at 2, and are just cleaning up - will not accept the rental back, but make me drop the keys in the slot. Now I have to get an Uber back to dealer. No nearby Ubers....takes 20+ minutes for 1 to arrive...and I get back to the dealership at 3PM, pick up my car, and get home at 3:15. So, the catalytic converter replacement was free. Not sure how much damage was done. I'm out 4-500 for the rental and Uber rides. The rental place apologized and reimbursed for the 15 Uber for their closing on Xmas eve. I am honestly very worried now. I had heard that Kia dealership/repair experience was 'not awesome' and this has been the worst repair experience I've had in 20+ years (and that was a mechanic backing my car out of a bay into a truck). The car is in need of another diagnosis/maintenance now (sounds like a wheel bearing)... I guess this will be make/break on any future visits, or if I start taking it to another dealership 30+ minutes away. I would go to local shop, but it's still under warranty - once out, I'll definitely use local shop. | ||
| Feb 202521000 mi | OK. So. I have now dropped the car off 4 times with the dealer. First for diagnosis, and they told me they would order parts. Brought the car for parts... 3 hour repair turned into 3 days. NOT FIXED. Brought the car back, they ordered more parts...parts came in, left the car again for 3 days...NOT FIXED. Brought the car back... on the second day, they provided a loaner, saying they were engaging Kia support. That was 2 WEEKS AGO, yesterday. The car has now been in the dealership for 19 days. I asked on Thursday for an update... they responded Wednesday saying they didn't really have details, but isn't it great they were able to provide a loaner? I engaged Kia corporate yesterday. I have no idea if they are unable, or unwilling to repair under warranty? Unfortunately, I have done some internet research...and to my shock, have found that the dealership has high marks for sales and finance... but abysmal service reviews! Of the 3-4 dealerships in the greater area (3 are 20+ mile drive away), all of the others have very high ratings. I have owned Subaru, Mazda, Honda, Acura, Audi, Porsche - and nothing in my life has approached this situation. | ||
| Mar 202522000 mi | Update on the multiple repairs. This time they kept my car for 4 weeks and 4 days, replacing a lower control arm. Why did it take so long? I dealt with Kia corporate, who eventually advised that though the dealership opened a case with Kia Tech Line, they would not respond to KTL's requests for info, audio, video, etc, for 2 weeks. The dealership told me that KTL would take a week to respond, clearly passing the buck. Anyway, this was the 3rd trip, 3rd repair for the car, which stayed in dealer's hands for 7 weeks. The problem was evident on the first turn out of the dealer's lot. DONE. Have moved on and brought the car to another dealership, where it now sits for a few days. | ||
See TrueDelta's information for all Hatchbacks
See TrueDelta's information for all Kia models.
